Ras Chonamara

skerry

Debating whether to do this or Ras an Laois this Sunday. Anyone got info on route linked below. From what I understand it was a stage race last year.

Looking to race the A4 and trying to figure out what would be the best option of the two as it will be my last chance to race in a while. Looking at Google maps and some of the roads look fairly narrow for a big bunch and the climbs look more like drags, although Google maps can be deceiving. Veering towards Laois at the moment as the climb looks more likely to break up the bunch (only the small matter of being at the right end when/ if it does :eek:).

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:%2F%2Fwww.mapmyfitness.com%2Froutes%2Fkml%2F392457772%2F

Mechanic365

Im going to connemara anyway because im familiar with the roads. Loais is tough but there aint much between them. As for a4 its gona be messy anyway, VNC was very messy nd I hope the guy who hit the toepath was alright!

at1withmyself

skerry wrote: »

Debating whether to do this or Ras an Laois this Sunday. Anyone got info on route linked below. From what I understand it was a stage race last year.

Looking to race the A4 and trying to figure out what would be the best option of the two as it will be my last chance to race in a while. Looking at Google maps and some of the roads look fairly narrow for a big bunch and the climbs look more like drags, although Google maps can be deceiving. Veering towards Laois at the moment as the climb looks more likely to break up the bunch (only the small matter of being at the right end when/ if it does :eek:).

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:%2F%2Fwww.mapmyfitness.com%2Froutes%2Fkml%2F392457772%2F

The weather looks good for the weekend here in Galway and wind can be a huge factor when coming through Maam valley. On Strava it doesn't look like a hard climb but its enough to break up the group if a bit if windy or if a group can power over it at speed that could hurt. Its also early in the day so I'd be surprised if some aren't dropped. I'm not too familiar with the back of the course but there is also a small short climb just before / after (pending on direction) with a good downhill then after. And of course you then have to come back over Maam Valley when the A4's finishing and the rest of the road back to Oughterard.

Lovely scenery so hopefully the Sun will break through the clouds for a few hours.


Thread from last year:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=83909777

http://raschonamara.ie/

skerry

Mechanic365 wrote: »

Im going to connemara anyway because im familiar with the roads. Loais is tough but there aint much between them. As for a4 its gona be messy anyway, VNC was very messy nd I hope the guy who hit the toepath was alright!

Was that the crash on the roundabout in the neutral zone? I thought the neutral zone was a bit of a farce to be honest, the group was whizzing along at not far off race pace so it was hard to tell whether the race was still neutralised or not. There were crashes in the neutral zone last year too.

skerry

at1withmyself wrote: »

The weather looks good for the weekend here in Galway and wind can be a huge factor when coming through Maam valley. On Strava it doesn't look like a hard climb but its enough to break up the group if a bit if windy or if a group can power over it at speed that could hurt. Its also early in the day so I'd be surprised if some aren't dropped. I'm not too familiar with the back of the course but there is also a small short climb just before / after (pending on direction) with a good downhill then after. And of course you then have to come back over Maam Valley when the A4's finishing and the rest of the road back to Oughterard.

Lovely scenery so hopefully the Sun will break through the clouds for a few hours.


Thread from last year:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=83909777

http://raschonamara.ie/

Thanks for that. Any idea how the A4 finished last year? I'd rather take the risk of getting dropped on a hill than face the inevitable bunch sprint madness if the race stays together.

XtotheZ

isnt the a4 race finishing on Maam Cross? Ill be at the a3 a2 race

macbane66

Mechanic365 wrote: »

Im going to connemara anyway because im familiar with the roads. Loais is tough but there aint much between them. As for a4 its gona be messy anyway, VNC was very messy nd I hope the guy who hit the toepath was alright!

Met one of the lads last night who hit the deck at the roundabout in the vnc last week, couple of nasty lumps and bumps but will b ok with couple of weeks.

Mechanic365

skerry wrote: »

Was that the crash on the roundabout in the neutral zone? I thought the neutral zone was a bit of a farce to be honest, the group was whizzing along at not far off race pace so it was hard to tell whether the race was still neutralised or not. There were crashes in the neutral zone last year too.

The lad in the van kept speeding up when riders got close so like thats basically a race, then he blew the horn and everyone almost got out of the saddle in a surge and calmed down again.
But the highlight was defo that run through the castle, im still sure the organisers directed us in there by mistake. I counted 6mechanical/punctures/ditchers there.
Absolute retards!!!

skerry

Mechanic365 wrote: »

The lad in the van kept speeding up when riders got close so like thats basically a race, then he blew the horn and everyone almost got out of the saddle in a surge and calmed down again.
But the highlight was defo that run through the castle, im still sure the organisers directed us in there by mistake. I counted 6mechanical/punctures/ditchers there.
Absolute retards!!!

Wasn't a fan of the Country Mile bit either, surely the idea would be to try keep a race on a safe a route as possible. Random huge potholes doesn't really equate to a 'cobbled classic' which is what I can only presume they were going for. Seen a few lads puncture there myself, bit of a lottery really. Was caught a small bit back the bunch when we got to the gate and lads had to unclip coming through as riders tried to funnel in, chased like a f$ucker up the climb then but couldn't regain contact with bunch, race over for me.

Mechanic365

Back on topic!
This was a very well organised race, apart from the fact that some a4 lads didnt turn left in the little village (forget the name).
I snapped a cable but I enjoyed the bit that I did until I tried to roll home with only two gears!

thekooman

did the a4 as well... blew up crossing between Maam and Maam X but finished 10 seconds or so behind the bunch. great weather for it... first farmers tan of the year! food was lovely in the Boat Inn afterwards so made for a great day out.